Romualdez leads relief distribution to flood-hit families in NCR

MANILA – Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, in coordination with Tingog Party-list, on Thursday led the distribution of relief packs and financial aid to thousands of evacuees in several parts of Metro Manila affected by floods brought about by Super Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon.

Romualdez said they hit the ground running in distributing relief goods to evacuees, citing their experience during Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) that destroyed almost everything in its path over 10 years ago.

"Personal naming karanasan matapos ang Bagyong Yolanda sa Leyte, mas maraming kailangang gawin ang gobyerno sa pagbalik ng mga evacuees sa kanilang mga bahay. Hindi lamang mga imprastruktura ang kailangan nating itayong muli. Kailangang maibalik ang tiwala ng ating mga kababayan sa kakayahan nilang makabangon muli (Typhoon Yolanda was a personal experience, the government must do a lot to bring evacuees back to their homes. It's not only the infrastructure that we needed to reconstruct. We also need to bring back people's trust in their own capability to rise again)," Romualdez said.

For Thursday, Romualdez visited 3,000 affected families at the San Juan City Gym and led the distribution of relief packs to each family. Each beneficiary will also be given a P5,000 in financial aid under the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as facilitated by the Office of the Speaker.

Then Romualdez proceeded to Quezon City, where he led the distribution of 2,000 relief packs to flood victims at the Bagong Silangan New Evacuation Center; and relief packs to 2,000 evacuees at the Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School in Barangay Tatalon.

Since Wednesday, the Office of the Speaker and Tingog Party-list has already distributed relief packs, consisting of three kilos of rice, canned goods, coffee and other items, to 7,000 families, or nearly 30,000 individuals, along with P5,000 in AKAP aid.

Romualdez said a collective effort is important to ensure that affected citizens receive the essential supplies they need during this challenging time.

"Mahalaga ang tulong ng bawat isa sa atin. Ngayon kailangan ang bayanihan. Bawat kamay na tutulong, malaking kontribusyon sa pagbangon. Ang aming pagsisikap ay bahagi ng mas malaking relief operations na isinasagawa ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand 'Bongbong' R. Marcos Jr. (The help of each one of us is important. We need community spirit. Each helping hand contributes a lot in the recovery. Our effort is part of the larger relief operations conducted by the administration of President Marcos)," he said.

Romualdez said the President has been actively monitoring the situation, ensuring relief operations are conducted efficiently and effectively in times of calamity, as well as members of the House of Representatives.

"Nasa ground ang ating mga congressmen para sa disaster response. Regular silang nagpapadala ng report sa akin kung ano ang kailangang tulong ng kanilang mga constituents. Handa ang House of Representatives na tumulong hindi lamang sa disaster response kundi maging sa pagbangon ng mga komunidad (Our congressmen are on the ground for disaster response. They regularly send reports to me on the kind of help that constituents need. The House is ready to help not only in disaster response, but also in the recovery of the communities)," he said.

Meanwhile, AGRI Party-list Representative Wilbert Lee opened their party headquarters at Araneta Avenue corner Quezon Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday to provide shelter, food and medicines for stranded families.

As of writing, the headquarters situated at Araneta Avenue corner Quezon Avenue, is still housing more than 170 families who were displaced due to heavy floods sweeping their areas, Lee said in a news release.

Aside from the temporary shelter, the AGRI Party-list team also distributed food and medicines to residents of Barangays Little Baguio and Salapan in San Juan City and families and volunteers in evacuation centers in Manila and Quezon City.

Lee thanked all the rescuers, volunteers and the media for their constant and steadfast service to the pubic amid the typhoon.

He emphasized the importance of cooperation between public and private sectors to improve the country's disaster risk reduction and management and boost relief efforts in times of calamities.

Due to the effects of Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon, Metro Manila was placed under a state of calamity on July 24. (PNA)